KITCHENER PANTHERS
13-TIME IBL CHAMPIONS
Kitchener Panthers
menuAnother lead slips away as Kitchener loses in Guelph
GUELPH - Another multi-run lead evaporates and another tough loss against a tough opponent.
The Guelph Royals erased a 2-0 deficit to win 5-2 over the Kitchener Panthers at Hastings Stadium Saturday night.
The Panthers kept Guelph to just one hit through four, but the Royals kept plugging and got runs on the board, tying the game in the fifth and adding three in the sixth.
Blake Jacklin hit a home run to dead centre off the first delivery of the game.
Spencer Voisin drove in Jorden Carthy in the second, and it seemed former Royal Danny Garcia was getting into a groove.
Garcia finished the game giving up two runs on five hits in five innings of work. He walked four and struck out six.
Nathan Laird was tagged with the loss. He faced four batters in the sixth and couldn't get an out. He gave up three runs (one earned) on two hits before Jose Vasquez took the Panthers the rest of the way.
It was a similar story to Thursday, where Guelph's pitching late got it done.
Kyle Thomas got the win, giving up just two runs on five hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
Drew Durst, in his IBL debut, got the save, striking out five Panthers in three innings of perfect baseball.
Raul Gonzalez extended his hitting streak to eight games. He got one of Kitchener's five hits on the night.
The Panthers have lost eight straight games, and fall to 10-23 on the year. That puts them half a game up on last place Brantford with nine games to go.
The Panthers are back at home Sunday afternoon against the Welland Jackfish for BEACH DAY! First pitch is at 2 p.m.
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